Brisbane Festival is almost here, which means soon the city will be inundated with a jam-packed schedule of must-see theatrical productions. This year, however, Brisbane Festival will also mark the opening of a brand-new bespoke live-entertainment space imbued with aesthetic nods to London’s West End theatre district. The West End Electric is the newest concept from Strut & Fret, the independent theatre company famed for productions like Blanc de Blanc, as well as the operators behind Sydney’s world-class theatre space The Grand Electric. The team has snagged the history laden site previously home to The Hi-Fi and Max Watt’s, with talented designer James Browne giving the 400-pax venue a chic and luxurious makeover imbued with “the essence of historical vaudeville, bohemian hedonism and abandonment”. The West End Electric will officially open its doors on Thursday August 29, launching the Brisbane premiere of Strut & Fret’s smash-hit circus-cabaret, LIMBO – The Return, a production that features a dazzling mix of circus, acrobatics, cabaret and live music from New York Jank maestro Sxip Shirey. Tickets for the show are available now – get yours from the Strut & Fret or Brisbane Festival websites.